Monday, March 2, 2015

This started as a class at the Artsy Soul, but we had to keep canceling so I submitted the pattern to SD&A and they published it.

I also finished the Flirty Flora for the stitch along which officially started yesterday. Fabric choices are being shared and I haven't seen one I didn't want to do! I am pleased with her though I think her skirt is too long so I already trimmed over an inch on her bottom slip but didn't take a new pic yet.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

DollMakers Journey is sponsoring a stitch along with my Flirty Flora Pattern on Facebook (page name is Doll Maker's Journey Work Along -Stephanie Novatski's Flirty Flora). It starts officially March 1, but I thought I would get a head start. I decided to make Flora a Snow Queen because of all the snow we have had, are having and will be having for like forever! Here she is in pieces so far.

I wanted her to white with shades of lavendar-grey. Her legs are a grey petit floral print that I added an overlay of pearlescent sheer. Here is how I did it.

First, I layed out the legs on a doubled piece of fabric to determine the size of the overlay I would need. Then I cut a piece of the sheer the correct size, Placed it on the right side of the leg fabric, basted the two together down the center, refolded in half. laid out the pattern pieces again and sewed the legs. The rest is done per the pattern.
Her body is a white with crystal/silver glitter, her arms are white and cream printed with glitter outlined leaves. I used Pimatex cotton for the head and wondered why the shape was a little odd until I realized the fabric is preshrunk since it was prepared for dying. I prefer the fabric straight off the bolt. Oh well, hair hides LOTS!

I wanted her face to be very white so used cool colors for her shading - Blue, lavendar, Purple, Grey tones. Her lips are pale pink with an over coloring of lavendar on the bottom and purple o the top lip. Her lashes are done with blue ink. I cut the hands out of the same fabric. Haven't turned them yet. Before I cut them out, I will take the largest turning tube I can and slide it up the fingers to stretch them as much as I can before I cut and turn them.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

We were supposed to use papers that are used under other papers while we work. Since I really don't do that much with paper, my supply is limited though I do have lots of paper towels I save when I am dying lace, ribbon, hair, fabrics, etc and have used these before. the sky in this pic first layer is dyed paper towels. I layered tissue paper over then stamped, stenciled, and rubbed more color on for the look I wanted. The bottom is also what lies beneath - the subway with lots of graffiti. I also added some on one of the buildings. I think it is something the world needs now - Peace! I am almost caught up on the journal, just one week behind and I think I can do that one tomorrow since it looks like we will be snowed in! AGAIN! Started to get antsy to do a doll or two too!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Because of all the goings on with family and the weather, I haven't had much time for art. I am behind on my Documented Life Project Journal. We are In week 6 and I just finished week 4s entry! I think the size of the blank workspace (18" x 12") is a bit intimidating. Here are my pages for week 2 where the prompt was Art Challenge: Gesso

Journal Prompt: “The beginning is always today.” -Mary Shelley

I started with tissue paper collage on the pages, stamped, stenciled, more stamps on top. The section on the right was gesso through a stencil I made from a Sizzix die on the tissue paper collage. The area to the left was done with a Crafters Workshop 12x12" stencil and Gesso. I used distress markers to outline the leaves and blend in some shading. I have since removed the writing, and replaced the quote on the right with printed words. The circles are die cuts, black and white layered. Pleased with how this came out. Will up date when I finish it completely.

The third week prompt Art Challenge: The Color Wheel

Journal Prompt: "I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way . . . “ - Georgia O’Keeffe

I had this pictured a bit differently. The face is from one of my dolls that I manipulated in Photoshopto look like newsprint photos. Not real pleased, but I'll do. The corona is die cut and embossed petals highlighted with shades of VivaDecor Inka Gold. The black/blue area is stenciled and the overplayed wirh paints. The rainbow from the prism was colored with inktense pencils. I got a surprise when I blended them with water as they got Very bright! I used a Joggles stencil withVivaDecor Holigraphic Gel medium to act as a resist then added aw asks of pear lizard paint. May add color names in tissue paper of various colors over the dark area as I think it needs something.

I just finished week 4

Art Challenge: Writing

Journal Prompt: Words with Friends

I drew waves across the paper then wrote words with fine tip markers to fill the space. I filled in the words with clear crackle paint then using distress stain, colored over each area. Thought the crackle would act as a resist but it didn't. Using stamps and archival ink, I stamped over the words then added a wash of Gesso, more stamps them some stenciling with acryllic paint. I stenciled leaves with ink and outlined with markers on the bottom, the copper and gold flowers are a Crafters Workshop stencil. Then added flowers cut from papers done with my Gelli Plate. The Girls are paper dolls I made (silly me didn't save the template). They are composites of my friends and me, dresses are more Gelli Printed papers. Needs some bugs like lady bugs and butterflies.

Tomorrow I hope to be working on week 5 Art Challenge: Under Paper (paper on your work table that gets all inky while you work)

Journal Prompt: What Lies Beneath? Only papers I have are paper towels so this should be fun!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

And I thought last year got off to a rocky start! I am over the flue but now have a severe cough and congestion in my chest. Think it is time to go to the Dr. Already behind in my to-do! I am doing a 100 word article that needs to be in the editor's hands by Feb 1! I have started the Documented Life Journal and am one week behind on my pages, but other than that....

Here are some pics of the Journal. I made the book using Cason multi-media paper amd chipboard based cover. It measures 91/2 x 12 1/2". I made the spine 3" to allow for the expansion of the pages. I wanted to depict the year in seasons on the cover. Maybe a little too busy, but I like it. Over the chipboard, I added my favorite Southern Belle Muslin, then matte medium, tissue paper, napkins, and all sorts of rubs and mica paints. I left the back plain. I used some of my beautiful cotton Alcenon lace on the binding.

I wanted to inside covers to look like they were part of an old italian fresco wall. They are done with lots of layers.Paper is sketch paper, inked it to look like parchment, stamped with a square medallion foam stamp with matte medium, spread some VivaDecor Inka gold pastels, crinkled paper and added VivaDecor Inka gold azure on creases, flattered out and repeated. Ironed to flatten, applied gold ink sparingly to a round medallion foam stamp and stamped over medallions. Once tried applied a very diluted wash of deep green ink over edges blended into the center,then a light tea stain ink over all. Took damp paper towel and blotted some away. The borders were die cut, GuildedLife die, from printed card stock. Lightly coated with copper metallic, then dabbed on gold metallic then dark green stain and then tea stain. Final touch was patina gilders paste. The buttons were made the same way as the borders but punched then embossed first.

Here are my first week's pages- Goalsetting. One should have been to not overdo!

I was also looking for pics to post on FB for the 5 day-3 pics art doll challenge. Wanted to do Mermaids today and looked for one on line of my Red Sea Mermaid. Huh. Guess I never posted a pic of her, so here she is. I made the head while teaching a class in Kalamazoo. I was gifted with the beautiful lace overlay fabric on her tail. It is very sheer, with woven in flowrs of soft multicolors.No Surprise, the class was My Soprana Mermaid.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Recently on Facebook in a discussion started by DollMakers Journey on their Where did I put That Treasure Hunt page, the question was posed what was your favorite thing to use for hair. My answer is anything that works! I thought I would post a few of the more unusual (at least to me!) things that I have used.
Feathers, not so unusual

Crocheted with beads and a few wisps of curly wool.

Curly Ribbon

Silk Flower Parts

Beaded and other fringe

My latest favorite, deconstructed Sweater cuff! I saw the sweater in my studio and threw it on quickly to go out. When I got to the restaurant and took off my coat, realized one sleeve was shorter than the other! YIKES! I had two of these sweaters, one white, one off white. I guess I got them mixed up when I started chopping!

Fabric

These are a few samples. Of course I love to use unusual yarns too. Thanks for looking!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

A few months back I purchased a new Sizzix die that cut out a small album cover from chip board. I made one with collaged book pages and napkin butterflies. I have finally used the cover to create a pop-up book. I have always wanted to make one!

Front and back Covers. The rayon dyed ribbon is from Ribbonsmythe. The cover was described in a previous post. The letters are cut from a Sizzix alphabetical die.

The inside cover. The quotes are from a stamp set from Stamp Camp. The pages are watercolor paper, stenciled and colored with various inks. The butterfly ribbon is cut from Vellum with a Martha Stewart punch. The butterfly is a Cuttlebug die.

The first Popup page. I wanted it to rise when the page was opened but not too much. The cutouts are textiva film. The bottom die cut is Spellbinders The Gilded Life.

A between page. The large butterfly and word are cut from vellum and embossed, Sizzix Tim Holtz dies. The small butterflies are also from a Sizzix original die. The smaller butterflies around the word are a Martha Stewart Punch.

This popup was adapted from a video I saw on Faceboo, I added the butterflies flying out of the flowers.k. The butterlies are from various punches. The little paperdolls are a Dienamics Die.

Another between page with another velum butterfly (Sizzix) and word.

I got the idea for this pop-up from the coin envelope book I made a while ago. If I were to do it again, and I probably will!- I would ink the inside of the embossed butterfly and put the decorative side of the backing shape facing forward. The butterflies were cut from a Sizzix Tim Holtz die. I cut 5 and cut them down in size which probably wasn't necessary, but it works.

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About Me

Since I retired from my "day" job in November, 2003, I have discovered Cloth Dolls. For as long as I can remember, I have been doing fiber arts from making clothes to all forms of embroidery, weaving, Knitting, etc (except tatting). I love to combine my love of anything tactile with creating dolls and other items. Check back to see my latest "stuff".